Ground spring clip



Nov. 3, 1959 T. H. LEE 2,911,608

GROUND SPRING CLIP Filed March 13, 1956 INVEN TOR. By 14mm #42 ,a ,zdew

2,911,608 VGROUND SPRING CLIP Thomas H. Lee, Kolromo, Ind., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware 1 a Application Mai-ch13, 1956, Serial No. 571,195

u 6 Claims. (Cl. 339-14) This invention relates to a spring clip, and more particularly to a spring clip adapted to resiliently connect a radio speaker basket and a relatively fixed support.

An object of this invention is to provide a spring clip with means adapted to'facilitate the securing of the Clip to the basket or other support in order that the clip may be fixed to the basket by a simple rotation thereof.

Another object is to provide a spring clip with means adapted to bite into a support to establish a good electrical connection between the clip and support.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from a perusal of the following-description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of the invention is shown.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a view partly in section illustrating a fasten- .ing, assembly constructed in accordance with this invention; Figure 2'is a view looking up at the assembly shown in Figure 1 with the spring clip in its final assembled position;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the spring clip shown in a position prior to its final assembled position;'

structed according to this invention;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of amodified spring clip made in accordance with this invention; and

Figure 6 is a side view of theclip shown in Figure 5.

Referring now to Fig. 4, the spring clip of this invention comprises a base section generally denoted by reference numeral 10 and a spring contact section integrally formed therewith and denoted by reference numeral 22. The spring clip may be made of spring steel or any other suitable material that is adapted to provide a resilient connection between a pair of members. The base section10 of the spring clip includes a pair of coplanar portions 11 and 12. Portion 11 is bounded, in part, by a pair of parallel edges 15 and 17 and an end. edge or heel 21 that is at right angles to edge 15. The edges 17 and 21 terminate in a rounded or reduced corner 23. The other portion 12 of thebase section is defined by a curvilinear edge 19 which connects edges 37 and 17, while edges 35 and 15 intersect to form an oblique angle. Thus, it is seen that portion 12 is angularly offset from portion 11 and merges into the spring contact section 22 at a line of bend denoted by reference numeral 13.

The spring contact section 22 is defined by a pair of reversely bent portions 14 and 16 formed as integral extensions of base section 10. These reversely bent portions Figure 4 is a perspective view of a spring clip con United States Patent 0 2 is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed depending lugs 28 and 30. These lugs include gripping means or tab portions 29 and 31 that are at right angles to the parts of the lugs extending from the base section. Although these lu-gs might be placed anywhere on the base section 10, they are shown in the drawings as being struck away from the edges of aperture 26. A third lug 24 is bent away from base section 10 and as shown in the drawings, is struck away along curvilinear edge 19. It is obvious that this lug might also be formed in different ways and -need not necessarily be formed as a struck-away portion of edge .19..

The spring clip is adapted to be connected to a supporting member such as a radio speaker basket 32, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The speaker basket has a flanged portion 38 having an outer wall 58 and an aperture 36 formed therein. The aperture 36 is oblong in order that the lugs of the spring clip may pass therethe spring clip away from the basket in a direction normal to the basket. When this rotation is completed, the heel.

or edge 21 of the spring clip abuts the outside wall 58 of the basket to prevent further rotative movement of the clip. The edge 21 and flange 38 thus coact to determine the amount the clip may rotate in one direction. The clip is not impeded in its rotative movement to its final assembled position shown in Fig. 3 because of the provision of the reduced or rounded corner 23 which freely Base section 10 has an aperture 26 formed therein and clears wall 58 during rotation of the clip to its assembled position. When the clip reaches its final assembled position, the lug or tongue 24 struck out from the clip engages the peripheral edge 33 of the basket to prevent rotative movement of t-heclip in an opposite direction. This engagement takes place just above the rounded corner 39, and tongue 24 is made long enough to positively preclude rotative movement of the clip in this opposite direction.

Thus, it can be seen that the clip is attached to the basket with a minimum amount of effort, the only assembly procedure required being a rotation of the clip.

Referring now to Fig. l, the spring clip is shown secured at one end to the speaker basket 32 and with the other end engaging a relatively fixed support 46. In this case, the fixed support takes the form of a radio speaker plate 46 having a protective coating 44 thereon. The speaker plate has apertures 45 and a gasket material 43 is interposed between the speaker plate and basket. Plate 46 and basket 32 are secured together by suitable means such as a nut, bolt and washer assembly, denoted generally by reference numeral 27, the bolt passing through bolt holes 55, 26, 57 and 36 formed in the speaker clip,- gasket material and speaker basket, respectively. In assembling the speaker plate, basket and spring clip, the spring clip is attached to the basket as hereinbefore described. The parts together with the bolt are then aligned and assembled, and the nut tightened to compress the spring contact section and gasket between the speaker plate 46 and speaker basket 32. This compression results in the tangs biting into the surface of the speaker plate and through the protective coating 44 to the plate establish a good electrical connection between and basket.

Although the clip is adapted to provide a ground connection between a speaker basket and speaker plate, it

Patented Nov. 3, 1,959 i is obvious that it may be used to electrically connect any two members.

Fig. discloses a modified spring clip that is in all respects the same as the spring clip shown in Figs. 1 through 4 except that the spring contact portion is in alignment with the base section rather than being angularly disposed thereto. In this embodiment, the clip is bounded, in part, by straight parallel edges 50 and 52. It should be noted that since the base and contact sections are in alignment, there is no need for making the tangs 51 and 53 of different length and in this case they are shown as being of the same length. This spring clip may be substituted for the spring clip shown in Fig. 4, in the assembly of Fig. 1.

The use of a spring clip having an angularly offset spring contact section has been found to have several advantages overthe typewhere no angular oitset portion is used With an oifset spring contact section it is possible to shorten the length of the clip and permits the use of a shorter spring contact section. Furthermore, it has been found that the angularly offset clip is better adapted for use with a fastener having atongue or lug of the type denoted by reference numeral 24.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that a simple method has been provided for resiliently connecting a speaker basket and speaker plate of a radio. For assembly, all that is needed is an application of the spring clip to the basket plus a slight rotation thereof into final assembled position. The method of assembly is not only simple but is adapted to provide an unfailing electrical connection between a speaker basket and speaker plate. V

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted as may come within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In combination, a speaker basket, a support, a spring clip having gripping means operative upon a predetermined relative rotation of said clip and basket and engageable with said basket for preventing relative movement of said clip away from said basket, coacting means on said clip and basket for preventing relative rotation of said clip and basket in either direction when said predetermined relative rotation is accomplished, and means on said clip for engaging'said support to electrically connect said basket and support.

2. In combination, a speaker basket, a support, a spring clip attached to said speaker basket, said clip having gripping means in engagement with said basket for preventing relative movement of said clip away from said basket, a lug depending from said clip and engaging a peripheral edge of 'said basket for preventing relative spring clip attached to said speaker basket, said clip having gripping means coacting with said basket for preventing relative movement of said clip away from said basket, a lug depending from said clip and engaging the peripheral edge of said basket for preventing relative rotation of said clip and basket in one direction, coacting means on said clip and basket for preventing relative rotation of said clip and basket in an opposite direction, and means on said clip for engaging said support to electrically connect said basket and support. I

4-. In combination, a speaker basket having an aperture, a support, a spring clip having a pair of depending lugs adapted to engage the surrounding walls of said aperture When'the lugs are passed through said aperture and the lugs and clip rotated through a predetermined angle of rotation to assembled position, a third lug engaging a peripheral edge of said basket when said clip is rotated, coacting stop means on said clip and basket for determining the said angle of rotation, and means extending from said clip and engaging said support for electrically connecting said basket and support.

5. In combination, a speaker basket, a support, a spring clip attached to said speaker basket, said clip having a pair of lugs in engagement with said basket for preventing relative movement of said clip away from said basket, a third lug depending from said clip and engaging a peripheral edge of said basket for preventing relative rotation between said clip and basket inlone direction, said basket having a Wall engaging anedge of said clip for preventing relative rotation between said basket and clip in an opposite direction, and means extending from said clip and engaging said support for establishing an electrical connection between saidbasket and support. I 6. A unitary spring clip adapted to electrically con nect two members, said clip comprising a base section having coplanar end and intermediate portions that are angularly offset relative to one another, electrical connecting means formed on said end portion to electrically engage one of said members, a spring contact arm having an intermediate portion upwardly extending from and integral with said intermediate portion of said base section, a reversely bent end portion extending at an angle from said intermediate portion of said arm, an d a pair of electrical connecting tangs formed by folded corners of said end portion'of said arm, the extremities of said corners being positioned upwardly away from said base to provide a resilient electrical connection with said other member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Becker Marl 8, 1955 

